You may borrow books and other materials from branch and member libraries within BCLS or from other library systems with whom we have a reciprocal borrowing agreement. In addition, BCLS participates in the nationwide interlibrary loan program allowing us to request items from libraries across the continental United States.
Request From Other BCLS Locations
The 15 locations making up our library system share materials easily searchable in our catalog. You can place a hold on most items through the catalog and have it delivered to the location that's most convenient for you. You will be notified when your requested item is ready for pickup at the branch you selected.
Request From RCBC Library
The Rowan College at Burlington County Library shares our catalog so you may easily search and discover items located in their materials collection. Place a hold using your BCLS library card and the items will be delivered to the branch you select for pickup. You will be notified when your requested item is ready to borrow.
Borrow From Atlantic County Library System & Ocean County Library
BCLS has individual reciprocal borrowing agreements with the Atlantic County Library System and the Ocean County Library. Library cardholders of these neighboring counties are eligible to apply for a BCLS card and likewise BCLS cardholders may present their cards when applying for membership at either library system.
Our arrangement with each library system is unilateral. BCLS cardholders with reciprocal borrowing privileges at one of the systems may not have access to the other participating library.
Request Through Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a network that allows libraries across the country to share their circulating collections. BCLS is a participating library, which enables us to obtain materials from any library willing to lend them. ILL requests take a minimum of 10-15 business days to be filled. BCLS is dependent on the cooperation of lending libraries, their resources, staffing and time constraints.
- All customers are eligible to place ILL requests as long as they have a library card in good standing. To make a request, please complete this form.
- There is a $3.00 charge for all ILL transactions, to offset searching fees and postage costs, payable when the item is picked up. For journal articles, there is a $3.00 charge plus the cost of printing copies. Please note: Charges still apply even if items are not picked up.
- You can request any book, CD, DVD or magazine article that BCLS does not already own.
- The same item for the same customer will not be borrowed more than once in a six month period. Electronic materials cannot be borrowed through ILL.
- Pick up your items at the location chosen on your ILL request form. ILL items may not be picked up at the RCBC library location.
- ILL items may be checked out for 3 weeks, with no renewals. Daily overdue fines are 25¢.
What can't I request?
- We do not accept requests for items that BCLS owns and are in our reference and circulating collections.
- The same item for the same customer will not be borrowed more than once in a six month period.
- Electronic materials cannot be borrowed through ILL.
- Materials published within the past 12 months are not available for request. If new titles are not available in the catalog, please suggest a purchase.
To check the status of your request, log into your library account and choose the “On Hold” option under My Borrowing, ILL items will be displayed with all other requests, or call 609-267-9660, ext. 3040.